Blackmail charges against CFMEU officials dropped

Blackmail charges against two Construction Forestry and Mining Union bosses have been dramatically dropped in a major blow to the Coalition’s Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

CFMEU state leaders John Setka and Shaun Reardon have been fighting allegations they blackmailed Boral managers Paul Dalton and Peter Head at a cafe meeting in April 2013.

It was alleged the pair had threatened to blockade Boral plants and trucks if the company refused to meet union demands.

Mr Setka and Mr Reardon were charged in 2015 after an investigation by a joint Victorian and federal police unit, following a referral by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

They had fought hard to get the charges dropped, taking the long-running case to the Supreme Court at one point. They finally succeeded on Wednesday, more than five years after the cafe meeting.

Later, federal jobs minister Michaelia Cash defended the union royal commission’s legacy. She was asked if the decision was embarrassing for the coalition government, which had pursued the CFMEU through the royal commission and the courts.

“Absolutely not. That is a matter for the Victorian police,” Senator Cash said.

“The CFMEU are without [doubt] one of the most notorious, in fact, they are the most notorious union in Australia. I think we’re up to about $14 million in fines.”